10 Amazing US Cities for Nature Lovers

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Everyone loves the excitement and electric energy of America’s big cities. From world-class art galleries to offbeat bars, US cities offer a smorgasbord of fun-filled and mind-blowing experiences. Amazingly, there are also plenty of cities in the USA that will satisfy your nature-loving soul. Whether you’re into hiking or beaching, America has a host of nature-friendly cities to appease your wanderlust.

Planning on exploring a nature-friendly city in the US, but don’t know where to go? Guess what? We’ve rounded some of America’s best and most fascinating urban destinations for nature lovers.

San Francisco, California

They don’t call San Francisco as one of the top places to visit in the US for nothing. For
decades, this SoCal city has been luring travelers worldwide with its iconic man-made wonders, such as the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge. But, the city also has a plethora of delights and surprises to offer to nature lovers. With over 200 parks in close proximity, San Francisco is
truly an urban destination hardwired for nature lovers. And, did we mention that it is home to an array of fabulous beaches, like Baker Beach, China Beach and Clipper Cove Beach?

Portland, Oregon

Portland is, hands down, one of the most diverse US urban destinations for nature lovers. After all, it offers skiing in winter as well as hiking, surfing and camping throughout the year. What’s more, it’s pretty close to the Columbia River George, the Oregon coast and snowy Cascades.
On a clear day, you can savor stunning views from Mount Saint Helens. As an added bonus, Portland is also deemed as one of the world’s top bike-friendly cities. Not bad, right?

Jacksonville, Florida

Home to more than 400 urban parks, Jacksonville is one of America’s greenest big cities. A must-visit spot here is the Big Talbot Island State Park – a nature preserve that’s great for bird-watching and wildlife photography. And, don’t forget to check out Little Talbot Island where you’llfind untouched beaches perfect for surfing and beachcombing. Make sure to drop by Timucan Ecological and Historic Preserve when visiting the city since it’s a rare chance to see one of the few remaining unspoiled and pristine coastal wetlands along the Atlantic Ocean.

Phoenix, Arizona

There’s no shortage of majestic and jaw-dropping sunsets in Phoenix, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers. And, that’s not all! The city also has a bunch of new community gardens and modern green spaces. To make things even better, the city has nature-friendly initiatives to make it a booming green mecca in the heart of the magnificent Sonoran Desert. A
great way to kick start an outdoor escape in this city is to visit the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve, which is a sprawling ecosystem of breathtaking desert animals as well as flora that you won’t find elsewhere.

Then, head to the country’s largest municipal park – South Mountain Park – to enjoy incredible views of Phoenix as well as the state’s famed sunsets.

San Jose, California

Like most of the cities mentioned on this list, San Jose boasts a wealth of natural parks. Furthermore, the city appeals to travelers of all ages. Kids, for instance, will have a blast running around as well as visiting Happy Hollow Park and Zoo’s petting farms. In addition, those who
are looking for cultural attractions will find their bliss at the Japanese Friendship Garden. On top of it all, the garden turns into a pink wonderland during spring, thanks to the budding Japanese
Cherry blossoms.

Seattle, Washington

No list of the best nature-friendly cities in the US is complete without the inclusion of Seattle, Washington. Sure, it rains in Seattle sometimes, but still it offers plenty of outdoor activities, regardless of the season. In summer, the city offers a whirlwind of experiences, including the Olympic National Park’s rainforest, hiking Mount Rainier and kayaking in the San Juan Islands.

When winter sets in, you can go on a couple of runs on Crystal Mountain’s slopes or gaze at the thousands of snow geese gliding into the Skagit Valley.

Jacksonville, Florida

Fond of national parks? Trust us, you won’t regret paying a visit to the “River City by the Sea”. Green and incredibly clean, Jacksonville has over 80,000 acres of park, including a national preserve, 10 national and state parks, an arboretum as well as a handful of city gardens and
parks.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is, without a doubt, every nature lover’s dream destination. With its awe-inspiring red-rock scenery, Sedona, AZ will give you the urge to snap countless of photographs. Trust us, there’s a beautiful sight at every turn at this desert town. Of course, the city offers a plethora of
exciting and magnificent trail, making it the ultimate destination for hikers in the United States.

On top of it all, it has plenty of healing vortexes that are believed to be therapeutic. Not a bad city to explore, right?

New York, New York

Surprised? Well, don’t be. Just because it’s an urban jungle, it doesn’t mean there are no nature spots in the city that never sleeps. As a matter of fact, New York is home to one of America’s largest and most visited urban parks - Central Park. Even better, there are tons of other awesome nature spots in and near the Big Apple, including the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Bronx Zoo, the Adirondacks and Lake George. Still think New York is just one big concrete jungle? Think again!

Los Angeles

Like New York, Los Angeles, California isn’t exactly the first place that comes into mind when you think of nature-friendly cities in the United States. For the most part, people associate Los Angeles with America’s worst traffic jams and the glitzy Hollywood. But, there are also tons of big and stunning beaches that are pleasant to visit year-round in Los Angeles. On top of that,
there are quite a few state parks nearby that offer a wondrous escape when you have enough sun. Sweet, right?

Jacksonville, Florida

Fond of national parks? Trust us, you won’t regret paying a visit to the “River City by the Sea”. Green and incredibly clean, Jacksonville has over 80,000 acres of park, including a national preserve, 10 national and state parks, an arboretum as well as a handful of city gardens and parks.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is, without a doubt, every nature lover’s dream destination. With its awe-inspiring red-rock scenery, Sedona, AZ will give you the urge to snap countless of photographs. Trust us, there’s a beautiful sight at every turn at this desert town. Of course, the city offers a plethora of
exciting and magnificent trail, making it the ultimate destination for hikers in the United States.

On top of it all, it has plenty of healing vortexes that are believed to be therapeutic. Not a bad city to explore, right?

Did we miss anything? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions to us, using the comments section below.

What Brown Girls Should Know About BB Creams for Dark Skin

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BB creams, which is a short form for “Beauty Balm," might be entirely new to you. These creams are, however, not new to the beauty industry. They were first made use of in Germany in the 1950s, and since the 1980s, they have been made use of regularly by Asians. Unlike the Germans and Asians, not many brown girls have been able to explore BB creams. While there could be quite a number of reasons for this, one reason why not many brown girls have given BB creams a lot of attention is because they do not know much about it and how it can be beneficial to their skins.

Below are specific details about BB creams for dark skin, which brown girls should know to have a good level of interest in BB creams.

BB Creams Can Care for a Variety of Skin Issues

BB creams have quite a number of functions. The exact function of the BB cream you purchase is dependent on the ingredients that it is made from. BB creams can play the role of a primer, a foundation, sun protection and can also moisturize the skin. That is not all; they sometimes contain anti-aging properties. The presence of certain ingredients in BB creams can help brown women deal with dark spots which are associated with pimples. They function by ensuring that black spots do not get darker and the skin tone is even.

One other fantastic function of BB creams is they can be used to address a darkening of the skin on the face. This darkening generally occurs on the cheek and forehead.

How to Avoid Mistakes when Shopping for BB Creams

Just like one could make mistakes when shopping for other products, there could be mistakes when shopping for BB Creams. So, to avoid making any mistakes, it is crucial to make use of a sample before making a purchase. You should check out the result of the use of this product both in artificial, as well as natural lightings. This is important because what works for one person might not work for another person.

What Ways do the Ingredients in BB Creams Enhance Darker Skin Tones?

There are lots of beneficial ingredients in BB creams. But the particular ingredient that is very beneficial to darker skin tones is sunscreen. This seems quite strange as people with dark skins will naturally assume that they do not need sunscreens. The truth is that regardless of our colors, parts of our bodies that are frequently covered usually have a better appearance than parts of the body that are not covered. The implication of this is the regular use of BB creams can make brown women have better complexions. Although the presence of melanin in the skin of brown women can protect them against the sun to a large extent, the sunscreen provided by BB creams can offer a lot more protection from the darkening effects of the sun.

Out of the Way Places to Visit in the Philippines

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The Philippine Islands are renowned as one of the top destinations for tourists, travelers, adventurers and water sports enthusiasts. But there are still many parts of these islands that remain off the beaten track, hidden gems that have yet to be discovered by mass tourism. It's always a good idea to research the current situation before you travel, just to make sure it's safe to go beyond the proscribed resort areas. But if you do get a chance to head out on your own initiative, here are some of the most rewarding locations that most visitors never get around to seeing. Depending on where you set off from, the journey may take you up to nine hours even from within the country, so make sure you have everything you’ll need – water, snacks, and a charged phone – and sort some entertainment too. (These Betfair promo codes NJ might help.)

Isla de Gigantes Sur

This is one of the most incredible islands in the whole of the Philippines, but at the time of writing it has yet to be colonized by hotels and resorts. This means it is still largely un-spoilt and is not overrun by tourists. If you want to stay over you'll probably need to make arrangements with a local family, but once you're on the island you should definitely head for Antonia Beach.

On one side this faces right onto the ocean, but on the other there are permanently calm waters for stress-free swimming and bathing. This is an ideal snorkeling location too, and lies just half an hour from the island's main port. You can get there by ferry from Estancia, or hire your own boat to come and go as you please.

Calayan Island

Calayan Island isn't the easiest of the Philippine Islands to get to, but it's definitely worth it. The island's relative inaccessibility, guarded as it is by high waves and a number of different ports you'll need to pass through, is what ensures that its beauty remains un-spoilt and mostly undiscovered. If you want peace and quiet in a remote, stunning landscape, Calayan Island is the place to go.

Once you arrive you'll be rewarded with amazing secluded beaches, friendly locals and striking rock formations. Be sure to check out the white sandy beaches of Cibang Cove and, if you're feeling fit, to climb the Nagudungan Hills, where the views from the top are simply breath-taking.

Dumog Sandbar

There is remote and then there is remote: and then there is this isolated sandbar in the middle of the ocean, only fully exposed at low tide. At one end it actually stays submerged just beneath the surface of the sea for several hundred meters. Walk out along it and you'll feel like you're walking on water!

Located between the islands of Bohol and Cebu, the sandbar has one permanent resident, a caretaker who guards it against the environmentally destructive practice of dynamite fishing. Otherwise it can only be visited for a few hours every day, so plan carefully.

Malawi Island

Although there is a tourist resort on Malawi Beach, the island is usually pretty quiet as it is located in the province of Basilan. While Malawi Island is considered to be completely safe, the province itself has a lingering reputation for crime and military violence that keeps many away. As always, check before you travel, but Malawi Island is just five minutes from Isabella City, the Basilan capital, and away from the resort you'll find a secluded island paradise.

Camiguin Island

Just off the northern coast of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines, "the island born of fire" is one of the archipelago's best-kept secrets. This volcanic island is scattered with unearthly mountain-peaks and spectacular free-flowing waterfalls. For absolute relaxation, just off the island's coast is the pure soft sandbar known as White Island, surrounded by perfect blue seas on all sides.

Abak Beach

Capul Island has several active resorts, but for those who want to go off the beaten track the abandoned resort at Abak Beach has a distinctly eerie charm. The white sands, perfect blue waters and coconut trees should satisfy anyone's beach requirements, but the desolate empty beach huts and derelict resort building add a certain extra frisson.

These are just a few of the amazing out of the way locations to be found in the Philippines. Sometimes it's best to follow your nose instead of following the crowds. With a bit of research and planning, creating your own itinerary can lead to the most memorable vacation you'll ever experience.